SeaDream Yacht Club is rising to the sustainability challenges facing the cruising industry with SeaDream Innovation. The ship, which is scheduled to enter service in September 2021, will use waste heat energy converters, shore power, batteries and more to reduce its environmental impact.
SeaDream will use a grant of US$1.8 million from Enova, an organisation that promotes sustainable energy and technology, to build the sustainability-centric mega-yacht.
“We are extremely grateful that Enova supports our environmental efforts,” said Atle Brynestad, owner of SeaDream. “Without this solid support from Enova, this would not have been possible. We are proud to contribute to the cruise industry by taking the lead in developing more environmentally friendly vessels that will also sail with the Norwegian flag.
“We are committed to having a positive impact on the environment, our employees, our guests, our suppliers and the places we visit. In the future, we all need to make a positive contribution to our environment and the local communities we visit, so guests can continue experiencing different local communities and enjoying the fantastic nature while using local services and making local purchases where possible.”
The operator will equip the new ship with a four-megawatt hour battery, allowing it to sail silently and emission-free for up to three hours without disturbing the surrounding wildlife. Used in combination with its four diesel engines, the system will enable SeaDream Innovation to visit sensitive areas such as the Norwegian fjords.
In addition, SeaDream Innovation will convert waste heat energy from the engines into electricity for extra power. Where possible, the ship will also connect to shore power to reduce the pollution levels in ports.
| Caption | SeaDream Innovation will use various non-carbon power sources to reduce its impact on the environmental (Image: SeaDream Yacht Club) |